Cricket World Cup: Glenn Maxwell, Michael Clarke expected to be in Australia’s squad of 15

AUSTRALIA’S World Cup 15 is due to be submitted to the ICC on Wednesday and selectors have a list of headaches to consider.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell thinks he has Ben Stokes out lbw but was overturned with a review during One Day International between Australia and England at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

AUSTRALIA’S World Cup 15 is due to be submitted to the International Cricket Council on Wednesday, but Glenn Maxwell, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Marsh headline a list of headaches for selectors.

Faith is expected to be shown in out-of-form strike weapon Maxwell, however his selection in the Prime Minister’s XI to play England in Canberra next week indicates how close he might have come to missing the cut.

LEE BACKS ABBOTT FOR WORLD CUP BERTH

Maxwell has failed in all formats this summer, but most crucially during the last ODI series for Australia against South Africa.

His confidence is down and wouldn’t have been helped by having Victorian and Australian teammate Aaron Finch sledge him during the Melbourne Big Bash derby.

“‘No. 3 to No. 6, then out of the team. That’s how it goes’,” said Finch.

Although Maxwell’s explosive, match-turning ability will be hard to leave out of a World Cup squad, which will be announced publicly after the fourth Test in Sydney on January 11.

Clarke is tipped to be named in the 15 despite the uncertainty over whether he will recover from right hamstring surgery in time to be fit for the showpiece tournament kicking off at the MCG on February 14.

Selectors always knew they’d need to take a risk in showing confidence in Clarke — who remains confident he will be fit — but what has come as a surprise is that CA will need to do the same for Marsh.

The boom all-rounder’s own hamstring injury is worse than first thought and he will reportedly be sidelined for up to three weeks, meaning he may not be available until the back end of the upcoming tri-series against England and India which doubles as a World Cup warm-up.

Marsh’s original prognosis after breaking down on day one of the Gabba Test was that he could be back for Sydney, but that was before he re-injured himself training on Boxing Day in Melbourne.

Now the 23-year-old is pushing the World Cup cut-off fine.

Although Marsh’s injury isn’t as serious as Clarke’s, if he suffers another setback, Australia could face the prospect of carrying two injured stars into the start of the tournament, which is far from ideal.

There is a buzz around that NSW bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott and WA spinner Ashton Agar are in strong contention as bolters for the World Cup squad.

Agar could put pressure on either Maxwell or full-time spinner Xavier Doherty, with his call-up to the Test squad for Sydney seen as a way of getting the youngster back in for another timely taste of the Australian setup.

It would seem incredible if Marsh or proven matchwinner and ICC team of the year member James Faulkner were under pressure to make the World Cup squad, but taking one of those two all-rounder spots would appear Abbott’s best chance of inclusion.

Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are heavily favoured to assume the four full-time fast bowling spots, and Brad Haddin to be the wicketkeeper.

Cummins will also play in the Prime Minister’s XI to be captained by Mike Hussey at Manuka Oval, as a chance for the Sydney Sixers tearaway to get another 50-over match under his belt.

The Prime Minister’s fixture also shapes as a golden opportunity for exciting young WA fast bowler and Canberra product Jason Behrendorff, who is understood to be in the extended 30-man World Cup squad and could be the next cab off the rank if a member of the attack went down.

“Jason Behrendorff … has been in fantastic form this summer across all three formats,” said national selector, Rod Marsh.

“Fans will also be looking forward to seeing Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell in action. Pat has been in excellent form bowling fast for the Sydney Thunder this summer, while Glenn can electrify the crowd with his daring and aggressive stroke play.”

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Glenn Maxwell, Michael Clarke expected to be in Australia’s squad of 15